Slug casting machine



Jan. 5, 1943. J. c. PLASTARAS 2,307,070

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 [NVENTOH 2; ATTORNEK.

Jan. 5, 1943. .1. c. PLASTARAS 2,307,070

SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 rp/flz P 1 I I A Ja VZINVENTOIB .Jan. 5, 1943. J. c. PLASTARAS SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 5, 1943. J. c. PLASTARAS sum CASTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I l l I l l I I l l ll NVENTOR BY a I Z ATTORNEYJ Jan. 5, 1943. J. c. PLASTARAS SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 15, 1941 12- Sheet's-Sheet 6 Q a Fm IN VEN TOR I I A j I v y); I ATTO'HNEYO:

Jan. 5, 1943. J. c. PLAsTARAs 2,307,070

SLUG CASTING MACHINE IoY/IIIIIIIIIIIJ GA (4 a I N VEN TOR Jan..5, 1943. .1. c. PLASTARAS 2,307,070

SLUG CAST ING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1941 12 Sheets-sheaf 8 I G54 1 1 9.15. J (429 0 V go 16. 22 630 (L llylllllllllllmlm 1'] B8 HYDR.

PLUNGERS RJAw 'suos HYDR. PR. RELIEF Jus'ricvL.

VISE JAWS REDUCING VALVE B INVENTOR ,4 ATTORNEYJ Jan. 5, 1943. J. c. PLASTARAS SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 13. 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 I L J L J IN VEN TO.

ATTORNEY-5 Jan. 5, 1943. i c.. PLASTAR AS 2,307,070

SLUG CASTING MAC HINE Filed March 13, 1941 l2 Sheets-Sheet 10 Y I 1 I v 7 INVENTOR ATTORNEY-7- Jan. 5, 1943.

J. C. PLASTARAS SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 15, 1941 i2 Sheets-Sheet 11 ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1943. J. c. PLAS'i'ARAS 2,307,070

I SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1941 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Just I/wr R56 Ma r:

BY Q E z E I Z ATTOHNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1943 SLUG CASTING MACHINE James C. Plastaras, Laurelton,,-N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application March 13, 1941, Serial No. 383,133

131 Claims.

The vise jaw and justifying mechanisms herein shown and described form part of a machine which is substantially new in its entirety. Many phases of the new machine are dealt with in the Plastaras copending applications Serial Nos. 269,833, 311,091, 355,434, and 377,364, filed respectively on April 25, 1939, December 2'7, 1939, September 5, 1940, and February 4, 1941. Other phases will be dealt with in applications yet to Among other things, the invention has achieved economy in manufacture by operating the jaws :and the spaceband driver from individual power units, compactly mounted in the vise frame, un-

der the control of a small light cam shaft unit which acts automatically to time the various operations of the parts. The arrangement has dispensed with the heavy. powerv transmitting cam shaft as Well as the long ponderous levers and connections which have heretofore been necessary.

Perhaps the best way to understand the improved vise jaw mechanism is to consider it as a line quadding and centering attachment. Actually, when the machine is at rest, both jaws are urged outwardly by power devices individual to the respective jaws. However, after the line has been positioned between the jaws and the machine cycle inaugurated, the power devices reverse the forces acting upon the jaws, urging them inwardly to their casting positions. After casting, the forces acting upon the jaws are again reversed, to reestablish the original conditions, so that the composed line may be withdrawn from between the jaws for distribution.

The various conditions of machine operation are determined by permitting free movement of the jaws by the forces which act upon them or by limiting their inward movement through the medium of adjustable stops which may be selectively interposed in the paths of the jaws. Thus,

, when it is desired to cast a line of full length (regardless of its actual length), a stop adjusted to full line position is interposed in the path of each jaw to prevent its movement inwardly beyond the adjacent end of the mold slot. Difierent settings of the stops will produce lines of correspondingly different measures. Moreover, by setting the stops inwardly from their full line positions, the inward quadding movement of the jaws will be arrested to give a fixed indention at either or at both ends of the line, as may be desired.

For free or random quadding with either jaw, the stop associated therewith is disabled, permitting. the casting position of that jaw to be determined by direct contact with the line when backed up by the other fixed jaw, whose casting position is determined by its stop which remains active. For a centering operation, both stops are disabled and the jaws coupled together for equi-distant movement so that their casting positions will be determined by direct contact with the line when it has assumed its centered position.

In the preferred arrangement, the jaws are pneumatically operated by separate and distinct cylinder and piston devices controlled by automatically operated valves which alternately charge and vent the cylinders tourge the jaws inwardly and outwardly at the proper stages in the machine cycle. Hydraulic mechanisms, one for each jaw, exert clamping pressure to hold the jaws in their casting positions. When both "jaw stops are active, as will be the case when a line of full measure is cast, or when the stops are set for fixed indention at either or at both ends of the line, the hydraulic mechanisms will jaw will hold it firmly against its stop, whereas that associated with the quadding jaw, whose stop is inactive, will exert a squeezing pressure upon the line, since under this condition, too, the line itself determines the casting position of the quadding jaw In such free quadding operations with one jaw alone, a differential is set up in the pressures applied by the two hydraulic mechanisms in favor of the jaw whose stop is active, in order to preclude the possibility of that 55 jaw being backed away from its stop by the pressure exerted through the line by the opposed quadding jaw.

The hydraulic clamping pressure is automatically applied after the jaws have been positioned by their pneumatic operating devices and just prior to first justification. After the first justifying operation, the clamping pressure is relieved to permit matrix aligmnent to take place. Thereafter, the clamping pressure is restored preparatory to second justification, the pressure remaining effective until after the casting of the slug. While the application and relief of the hydraulic clamping pressure is timed from the cam shaft in the vise frame, the force necessary to relieve the clamping pressure is supplied by an independent pneumatic device, since the structural characteristics of the cam shaft render it inadvisable to use the same as a force transmitting element. The operation of such pneumatic pres sure relieving device is nevertheless timed from said cam shaft.

The improved justification mechanism comprises an individual power unit in the form of a pneumatically operated cylinder and piston device automatically controlled from the cam shaft. Since the first justifying operation merely serves to expand the line preliminarily to fill up the space between the jaws and does not contemplate a tightness in the line such as must result from second justification, the pneumatic pressure exerted during first justification is substantially less than that exerted during second justification. To this end, a pressure regulating valve is inserted in the line through which air is supplied to the justification cylinder for carrying out the justifying operations, this pressure regulating valve serving to limit the justifying force exerted upon the spacebands during first justification to a predetermined amount and then acting automatically to permit a larger force of predetermined amount to be exerted on the spacebands during second justification. Between the two stages of justification, the pneumatic pressure exerted on the spaceband driver is relieved to facilitate the matrix alignment operation already referred to.

A manually adjustable control element within easy reach of the operator enables the machine readily to be conditioned for regular machine operation, quadding left, centering, and quadding right as desired, and upon the setting of the device for any selected operation, the machine without more is automatically conditioned for the performance of that operation.

Other features of the new machine will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved vise jaw and justification mechansms;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 with the front plate of the vise frame removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 5 is a top plan view of a gear for actuating the righthand jaw in a horizontal direction and showing the manner in which the gear is splined to the vertical shaft on which it is mounted;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the right and lefthand vise jaws and the mechanism in the vise frame by which they are actuated, the vise cap having been removed to show the Parts in 1 tail;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the looking bolts for maintaining the adjusted positions of the jaw stops;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the left-hand jaw stop mounting, a pawl being shown for coupling the jaw with its stop during normal machine operation together with mechanism for disabling the pawl under certain conditions;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the pneumatic cylinders for operating the lefthand jaw;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the manual adjustable device for setting the machine for different operating conditions;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view through the hydraulic mechanisms by which clamping pressure is applied to the vise jaws;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view on line lB-i 3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a portion of one of the hydraulic cylinders, the piston likewise being in section to show details of its construction;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 13, the parts being shown in their active positions;

Fig. 16 is a partial horizontal sectional view on line IS-IB of Fig. 3;

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of the mechanism for adjusting the stop associated with the left-hand jaw and also of the mechanism for adjusting the machine for different operating conditions;

Fig. 18 is a fore-and-aft vertical sectional view through the mechanism for adjusting the stop associated with the left-hand jaw;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic illustration of a pair of plates forming part of the mechanism for adjusting the machine for its different operating conditions;

Fig. 20 is a front elevation of a portion of the jaw stop adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a clutch mechanism for coupling the vise jaws during a centering operation;

Fig. 22 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the mechanism for relieving the hydraulic clamping pressure exerted on the vise jaws;

Fig. 23 is a front elevation of the mechanism for automaticallly varying the justification pressure;

Fig. 24 is a vertical sectional view on line 24-24 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 24, the parts, however,'being illustrated in a diiferent position of adjustment; and

Fig. 26 is a diagram of the pneumatic system.

Vise jaws and their mounting As set forth in the Plastaras application Serial No. 377,364, the new machine, of which the instant mechanisms form part, utilizes a line delivery carriage A equipped with a pair of line engaging fingers A and A acting, upon the inauguration of the line transfer operation, to descend into engagement with the opposite ends of a composed 'line of matrices and spacebands, whereupon the line delivery carriage moves to the left, transferring the line directly from the assembler to the first elevator A which, in its normal position, stands at the assembling level (Fig. 2). Upon thedelivery of the line to the first elevator, the line engaging fingers A and A ascend clear of the line, permitting the line delivery carriage to be restored to its normal position ready for the transfer of the next line.

The machine is equipped with a vise frame B supporting right and left-hand jaws C and C between which the line is clamped endwise during the casting operation. The left-hand jaw G at all times, is located at the casting level, whereas the right-hand jaw C normally stands below the delivery path of the line so that the matrices and spacebands can pass over it without interference during the line delivery operation (Fig. 1). when the line has cleared the right-hand jaw and has been delivered to the first elevator, the right-hand jaw ascends to an operative line clamping level, i. e., to the level of the left-hand jaw, so that the composed line will be located between them (Fig. 2)

The right-hand jaw comprises a body portion C tongued and grooved for longitudinal sliding movement in a jaw support C and a rearwardly offset portion whose left or active face is adapted to engage the terminal end of the line (Figs. 2 and 4) The jaw support C is arranged for vertical sliding movement to permit the ascent and descent of the right-hand jaw, and for this purpose it is channeled vertically at the front to provide clearance for a fixed guiding member 13 forming part of the vise frame, the guiding member being formed in its lateral edges with grooves 13 to receive a pair of vertical guiding tongues C screwed to the jaw support adjacent its front face (Figs. 2 and 9). The ascent and descent of the jaw is effected by a vertically arranged pneumatically operated double-acting cylinder and piston mechanism whose cyclinder C is fixed on the vise frame and whose piston rod C extends through the head of the cylinder and is connected at its upper end to a lug C projecting rearwardly from the jaw support (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 9).

Both ends of the cylinder C are connected by pipe lines C and C to a valve C adjustable by means of a swivel bar C to two different positions. In one position of the valve, the cylinder is charged with air pressure at one end and vented to the atmosphere at the other; whereas, in the other position of the valve, the pressure conditions in the cylinder are reversed (Figs. 1, 2 and 26). Normally, the cylinder is charged at the top, thus locating the jaw C in its lowermost position, where it is held by a latch member C whose function and operation have been described in the aforementioned oopending application Serial No. 377,364. However, as the line delivery carriage A completes its line delivery movement, it actuates a slide A which, through the medium of a pair of levers C and C and an interconnecting link C moves a swivel lever C to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby adjusting the valve C to charge the cylinder C at its lower end and vent it at the top, with the result that the righthand jaw C is raised to its upper or active position. The swivel member C is pivotally mounted on a fixed fore-and-aft rod 13 and is formed with three arms C C and C the arm C extending upwardly and presenting a bifurcated portion which engages a pin C at the lower end of its actuating lever C the arm 0 extending to the right and presenting a bifurcated portion engaging one end of the valve adjusting swivel member C and the arm C extending downwardly and presenting at its lower end a cam follower C which is arranged to track along an edge cam D mounted upon a fore-and-aft cam shaft D journaled at its opposite ends in the vise frame B. The cam makes one complete rotation in each machine cycle of operation and at the proper stage in the cycle, i. e., after the actual casting of the slug has taken place, a high portion D of the cam D engages the follower and turns the swivel member C back to its original position, with the result that the valve C is adjusted to charge the cylinder at its upper end and vent it at its lower end, thus moving the right-hand jaw C downwardly to its normal inoperative position. 'During the final stages of its upward movement, the right-hand jaw inaugurates the casting cycle, i. e., it initiates the rotation of the cam shaft D, which, after one complete rotation, is automaticallybrought to rest.

The left-hand jaw C is substantially U-shaped in cross-section, being formed with a rear portion or'leg C whose right end is adapted to engage the left or leading end of the composed line (Figs. 2 and 3). The jaw is also formed with a front leg portion C which is guided for end-wise movement between a depending apron 3, forming part of a cap B at the top of the vise frame, and a fixed portion B of the vise frame proper, the leg C being formed at the top with a forwardly projecting portion C presenting a shoulder which engages the top surface of the vise frame portion B just alluded to. In this Way, the jaw is supported at the proper level. As in the case of the right-hand jaw C, the left-hand jaw C is formed in its line engaging face with a vertical groove C so that, when necessary, it will accommodate the left-hand finger A of the line delivery carriage A upon the initial movement of the line into the first elevator, assuming of course the line is long enough substantially to fill out the' space between the jaws (Fig. 6). The y'aw stops and their adjusting mechanism The line clamping jaws C and C are movable, each toward the other, separately for quadding the line at either end or simultaneously for centering the line. Actually, during each machine cycle, forces act to urge both jaws toward each other to line clamping position before casting and away from each other after casting to restore them to their normal positions. During a centering operation, the jaws move toward each other until they are arrested by banking against the opposite ends of the composed line, provision being made, as will be described later on, for equalizing the jaw movement undersuch conditions. Free or random quadding with either jaw is effected merely by selectively interposing a stop in the path of the other jaw to locate it in its full line position, while allowing the casting or quadding position of the other jaw to be determined by direct contact with the line. it a stop which is adjustable to any desired position, the two stops may be used to determine the casting positions of both jaws, and since the line can be justified out to fill up the space between the jaws, the arrangement permits a fixed degree of quadding, termed a fixed indention, at either end or at both ends of the line. The stops are also used when a line of full measure is cast, being located under such conditions in non-quadding or full line positions; in other words, since the jaws are powered to move inwardly and outwardly during each machine cycle, regular or full line casting may be considered as a special condition of fixed indention, namely, a condition giving a zero indentionat both ends of the line.

The stops under discussion are designated E Since each jaw has associated with and E (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6). When in use, the stop E is interposed in the path of a lug C extending forwardly from the right-hand jaw C, whereas the stop E is interposed in the path of a lug C extending forwardly from the lefthand jaw C The stops E and E project rearwardly from a corresponding pair of racks E and E which are tongued and grooved in a fixed portion of the vise frame B and are arranged for independent horizontal movement in a direction laterally of the machine so that the stops can be individually adjusted for any machine condition desired.

The racks E and E are held in their different positions of adjustment by a corresponding pair of locking bolts E and E extending through sleeves or bushings E and E mounted in a fore-andaft direction in fixed portions of the vise frame (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, '7 and 18). For

this purpose, the racks E and E throughout their entire front faces, and the locking bolts E and E in their rear end faces, are formed with vertical, regularly pitched teeth E and E which interengage in any of the adjusted positions of the racks. The locking bolts for the two jaw stops are the same and are illustrated best in Figs. 7 and 1%. Throughout the rear half of their length, i. e., where they are encircled by the sleeves E and E", the bolts E and E are cylindrical in shape; forward, however, they are cut away each to present two diametrically op posed rods E located one above the other in a vertical plane and integrally connected at their outer ends by an annular ring E. The diametrically opposed rods E extend forwardly through a vertical slot E formed in a keeper plate E E there being one keeper plate for each bolt. The keeper plates are connected to the vise frame at the front each by a pair of screw and slot connections E Each bolt is hollowed out to form a recess E which houses a compression spring E reacting between the rear end of the recess and the rear face of its respective keeper plate E E Thus, the bolts are urged rearwardly to maintain a locking engagement with their associated racks E E The stops E and E are adjusted manually from the front of the machine by a pair of knobs E and E secured to the outer ends of a pair of shafts E and E extending in a fore-and-aft direction and mounted in cylindrical recesses in the vise frame. For the greater portion of their length, the shafts E and E are formed with pinion teeth E which, near the rear ends of the shafts, engage teeth E formed in the upper edges of the racks E and E associated with the respective jaw stops (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 18). Before either of the stops can be adjusted, its locking bolt must first be withdrawn out of locking engagement with its stop racks. For this purpose, there is provided a pair of levers E and E associated, respectively, with the right and left-hand locking bolts E and E The levers are pivotally mounted at their lower end and provided each, about midway of its length, with a pin E engaging the rear face of the ring portion E of its associated locking bolt E E and, near its upper end, with another pin E engaging in an annular groove E formed in the hub part of the associated adjusting knob E E To adjust either of the stops E, E then, the operator pulls forward on the appropriate knob E E thereby rocking the associated lever E, E to withdraw its locking bolt E, E out of engagement with the corresponding rack E E thus freeing the rack for movement and permitting the operator to rotate the knob which in turn, through its pinion, adjusts the rack and consequently the stop in one direction or another, depending upon the direction in which the knob is rotated. When the proper adjustment has been made, the knob is released, whereupon the locking bolt is restored into engagement with its associated rack under the action of its compression spring E", the spring acting also to restore the adjusting knob and pinion rearwardly to their normal positions through the lever connection previously mentioned. When the looking bolts E, E are retracted out of engagement with the racks, they are held against inadvertent rotary movement such as would prevent reengagement, by the cooperation of their forwardly extending rods E with the vertical slots E in their respective keeper plates E E.

The adjusted positions of the jaw stops E and E are indicated by a pair of fingers E" and E provided, one for each jaw, and which cooperate with a horizontally arranged scale E fastened at the front of the vise cap and graduated in ems (Fig. 1). The finger E associated with the right-hand jaw C, is mounted at the left end of a rack E whereas the finger E associated with the left-hand jaw 0 is mounted at the right end of a similar rack E the racks being tongued and grooved each to an underlying fixed member supported by the vase frame near the front (Figs. 4, 5 and 18). The racks E and E are arranged for longitudinal movement laterally of the machine in synchronism with the movement of the stop racks E and E and, for this purpose, they are formed in their upper edges with teeth E meshing with the pinion teeth E by which the associated stop racks are adjusted. In other words, when the operator rotates the knobs E E to adjust the stops E, E the fingers E E associated with the stops will be correspondingly adjusted, so that by glancing at the position of the fingers with respect to the scale E the operator will be apprised at once of the position of the stops. In Fig. 1, the finger E associated with the righthand jaw is set at 0" on the em scale (the scale being graduated from right to left), thus indicating that the stop E associated with the righthand jaw is in its extreme rightmost position. The finger E associated with the left-hand jaw, on the other hand, is set at 18 on the em scale, indicating that the stop E associated with the left-hand jaw is adjusted to produce an indention at the left end of the slug of 12 ems, the line under such an adjustment of the stops to be 18 ems in length. The finger would also have the same setting if the length of the mold slot were 18 ems, since the stop E is also used to locate the left-hand jaw according to the length of the slot in the mold in use. If a 30 em line were to be cast, the finger associated with the right-hand jaw would have the same zero setting indicated in Fig. 1, whereas the finger asscciated with the left-hand jaw would be set at 30" on the em scale. For an indention at the right end of the line, the finger E associated with the right-hand jaw would be adjusted in the manner stated according to the extent of the indention desired.

Although the scale E is graduated in ems as shown in Fig. 1, the pitch of the teeth on the stop racks E E and of the cooperating teeth on the locking bolts E, E is a half em. Consequently, it follows that lines in multiples of a half em indented at either end as desired may be cast with the adjusting devices that have been described.

The machine is also equipped with mechanism for varying the position of the stops E and E by increments of less than a half em; indeed, variations in line length down to increments of one point can be obtained, if desired. To this end, the locking bolts E and E are eccentrically mounted in their encircling sleeves E and E". The sleeves are formed near their front ends with fianges E E presenting shoulders which engage portions of the vise frame so as to hold the sleeves against rearward movement. Forward movement of the sleeves is prevented by the keeper plates E E which present the reaction surfaces for the springs in the locking bolts. As shown in Figs. 18 and 20, the sleeves are formed with what in effect are small crank arms E E consisting each of a fore-and-aft horizontal porition connected at one point with its associated flange, and a downwardly extending vertical portion terminating in another horizontal portion which extends forwardly through a vise frame front plate B The crank'arms are connected to the sleeves at the point of greatest radius from the center of the associated locking bolt. Assuming now that the crank arm E associated with the left-hand jaw is located in its rightmost position, as indicated by the solid lines in Fig. 17; the locking bolt E for that setting will be in its leftmost position. Now if the crank arm is turned to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 17, the locking bolt E will be moved toward the right because of the eccentric nature of its encircling sleeve E". In other words, while the coarser em adjustments of the stops are effected by moving the racks on which they are mounted while holding the locking bolts stationary, the finer point adjustments are made by moving the locking bolts themselves while maintaining them in locking engagement with the stop racks.

The full range of locking bolt adjustment is equivalent to six points, or a half em, and adjacent the crank arms E E there are mounted arcuate scales E and E graduated in points and screwed to the front plate B where the crank arms extend therethrough. Thus, by way of example, if the stop E associated with the left-. hand, jaw, has been adjusted to the position where the pointer E is opposite 18 'on the em scale E3 (see the solid line position in Fig. 17) and the crank arm E is opposite on the point scale E theadjustment of the crank arm to the dotted line position opposite .6 on the pointy scale will have the effect of moving the stop E one halfem to the right. This. movement of thestop will be indicated by the finger E 9 cooperating. with, the .em scalesince, as stated previously, the stop racks E and E andwthe finger racks E and E are arranged for synchronous movement. Of course, the adjustment of the crank arm to any of the other point scale indications will result in a correspondingly smaller adjustment in the position of the stops.

In order to maintain the different adjustments, the sleeve associated with each locking bolt E E is formed in the peripheral edge of its flange, in a region "diametrically opposite its associated crank arm, with a series of notches E adapted to cooperate with a spring pawl E fixed to the vise frame above the sleeve flange, the pawl being formed at its end with a tooth adapted to enter one oranother of the notches, depending upon the setting of, the sleeve (Fig. 20). The lightness of the spring pawl enables it to be cammed out of the notches E as the sleeve is manually adjusted, but is strong enough, on the other hand, to prevent inadvertent rotation of the sleeve that might otherwise result from the lateral thrust of the jaw.

It should be stated here that the screw and slot connections E which hold the keeper plates E E against the reaction of the locking bolt springs E permit said plates to accommodate themselves to the lateral movement of the looking bolts as the latter are adjusted, while the vertical movements thereof are accommodated by the vertical slots E in the keeper plates which are long enough for the purpose.

Provision is also made for limiting the outward adjustment of the finger pieces E and E beyond the zero and 30 em indications on the em scale, respectively (Figs. 1, 6 and 18). It will be observed thatthe finger pieces are formed at their lower ends with integral horizontal portions E and F by which they are connected to their respective racks E and E These horizontal portions present shoulders which bank respectively against depending legs of a pair of angle plates E and E in their extreme outer positions of adjustment. The angle plates are securedto the vise frame at the front, their horizontal legs overlapping for a short distance the cylindrical recesses in which the elongated pinions E and E are mounted, thus serving the additional function of limiting the extent to which the pinions can be pulled outwardly during the adjustment of the stops.

The pnuematic jaw operating mechanism The jaws C andC are pneumatically operated by cylinder and piston devices normally charged to urge the jaws apart but which have their charges reversed to urge the jaws inwardly to casting position at the proper stage in the machine cycle, namely, when the line is in the first elevator and the'right-hand jaw' has ascended toits upper position. Then, after the actual casting operation has taken place, the charges in the pneumatic devices are again reversed, causing the jaws to retreat from the ends of the line and enabling the line toascend to the upper transfer level for distribution.

Regardless of the operation to be performed, the right-hand jaw normally stands in its fully retracted or rightmost position as determined by a banking stop C screwed to the jaw support or slide C (Fig. 6) since, upon its ascent to operative position, it must clear the terminal end of the, composed line. The lug C thereon must also clear the associated stop E when the latter is set in its rightmost or full line position (Fig. 6). Upon the inauguration of the casting cycle, brought about by the upward movement of the right-hand jaw, the latter is urged leftward to its casting position, which will be determined by the line if the operation is one of free quadding with the right-hand jaw, or by the jaw stop E if a right-hand indention or a line of full measure is desired.

For free quadding left, or for centering, the left-hand jaw, before the casting cycle is inaugurated, stands in its leftmost position as determined loy a banking stop C secured to the vise frame at the left (Fig. 6), the jaw being moved inwardly to casting position as determined by contact with the line and outwardly away from the line by the alternate reversal of the charges in its pneumatic operating device, as in the case of the right-hand jaw. However, for fixed indention with the left-hand jaw, or when casting lines of full measure, there is no necessity for the left-hand jaw to move away from its stop E which determines its casting position. Consequently, to avoid wear, means are provided for coupling the jaw to its stop under such conditions. As shown best in Figs. 2, 3 and 8, the stop rack E associated with the left-hand jaw C is formed, adjacent its rear face, with a portion E extending below the rack and to the left of the stop. The portion E presents a channel E in which a pawl E is pivotally mounted on a fore-and-aft pivot pin E the pivot pin extending through the pawl and being anchored at its ends in the channel walls. At its right end, the pawl E is formed with a concentric rounded edge which allows the pawl to drop by gravity behind or into engagement with the left face of the lug C on the left-hand jawwhen the lug is in contact with the stop E Incidentally, the left face of the lug C is rounded off to conform to the adjacent surface of the pawl. In its lower edge, the pawl E is cut away to present a surface E which rests upon the base of the channel E when the pawl is in its active position. It will also be noted that the pawl is formed with an enlarged portion E at its left end to insure its gravity operation. 4

Under those conditions which require the services of the stop E i. e., for fixed indention at the left or for full line measure, the pawl acts to hold the jaw C against the tendency of its pneumatic operating device to move it outwardly away from the stop. The pawl also serves to couple the jaw to the stop during the manual adjustment of the latter. Under those conditions of machine operation which do not require the services of the stop E i. e., for free quadding with the left-hand jaw or for centering, the pawl E is disabled, thus permitting the jaw to move free of the stop. The pawl disabling means is referred to later on at a more convenient point.

The right-hand jaw C is moved toward and away from the composed line before and after casting, respectively, by mechanism which includes a vertical rotatable shaft F on which there is mounted a pinion F meshing with rack teeth C formed in the front face of the jaw throughout its entire length (Figs. 2, 4 and 6). The pinion F remains engaged with the jaw at all times, travelling up and down along the shaft F throughout the ascent and descent of the jaw. For this purpose, the pinion is formed at the bottom with a reduced circular portion or collar F rotatably mounted in a bearing bracket F extending from and formed integrally with the movable jaw support C The larger or upper portion of the pinion presents an annular shoulder F which bears upon the underlying support so that, as the jaw support moves upwardly, the pinion will travel with it. The pinion is constrained to move downwardly with the jaw support by an overlying angular shaped keeper plate F having a horizontal leg engaging the pinion F at the top and a vertical leg screwed to the bearing bracket F The pinion F is connected for rotation by the vertical shaft F by a series of four splines F spaced apart at intervals of 90 and which project into vertical grooves F formed in the pinion hub and also into registering vertical slots F extending longitudinally of the shaft, the slots F being of sumcient length to accommodate the organs (Fig. 16). readily traceable in the diagrammatic view of full vertical movement of the jaw support (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). In a word, the arrangement is such that the pinion F will move upwardly and downwardly along the shaft F as the right-hand jaw C moves from its inoperative to its operative position and back again, remaining at all times in engagement with the jaw, so that, as the shaft F is rotated, the jaw will move inwardly to casting position or outwardly to its normal position according to the direction of rotation.

The vertical shaft F is rotated to cause the to and fro movement of the right-hand jaw C by means of a pneumatic device F consisting of a pair of cylinders F and F formed in a single cylinder block mounted on a horizontal shelf 13 forming part of the vise frame B, and a pair of pistons F and F arranged to reciprocate in the cylinders, the latter being located so that the piston movement will be in a fore-and-aft direction (Figs. 4 and 9). The pistons F and F are provided with piston rods F and F cut to a half round section for the major portion of their lengths and presenting rack teeth which engage diametrically opposed portions of a pinion F fixed to the vertical shaft F just above the vise frame shelf B The pinion F is formed with an integral collar F", the lower face of which rests upon the shelf B and thus constitutes a thrust bearing for the vertical shaft F. Incidentally, the lower end of the shaft F is journalled in a boss F projecting downwardly from the bottom of the shelf B the upper end of the shaft being journalled in the vise frame.

At their front ends, the cylinders F and F are provided each with an angle member F by which the piston rod is guided, one leg of the angle piece being formed with a boss extending for a short distance within the cylinder to preserve proper alignment, and the other leg presenting a slide bearing engaging the half round face of the piston rod to counteract the lateral thrust on the latter when the machine is operated (Fig. 9). In the rear end walls of the cylinders F and F there are provided ducts F and F which are connected through pipe lines F and F with a slide valve F arranged in a manifold D which is common to a number of other slide valves operating different machine The pipe lines F and F are Fig. 26. The pipe line F leading from the cylinder F is connected at one end f the s ide valve F through a T-connection F whereas the pipe line F leading from the cylinder F is connected at the other end of the sl de valve through a T-connection F The arrangement is such that when the valve is in one position of adjustment, the cylinder F will be charged with air under pressure and the cylinder F vented, whereas when the valve i shifted to its other position of adjustment, the air conditions in the cylinders are reversed. The valve F is sh fted to its different positions of adjustment under the control of a cam D mounted on the shaft D,

' through the medium of a swivel bar F and a bell crank lever F, the latter having one arm bifurcated for connection with the swivel bar and another arm presenting a cam follower F constrained to track along the edge cam D (Fig. 16).

The configuration of the cam D is such that, when the cam shaft D is at rest, the valve F controlled thereby w'll be adjusted to charge the right-hand cylinder F and vent the left-hand cylinder F to the atmosphere. Under such conditions, the piston F in the cylinder F will be in its forward position, whereas the piston F in the cylinder F will be in it rearward position, as a result of which the right-hand jaw C, which is operated by the p;stons through the connections previously described, will be in its normal or right-most position (Fig. 9). However, as soon as the right-hand jaw ascends to its upper operative position, and inaugurates the machine cycle, the cam D will adjust the valve F to reverse the air conditions in the cylinders F and F i. e., the right-hand cylinder F is vented to the atmosphere and the left-hand cylinder F charged, with the result that the piston F moves forwardly and causes the vertical shaft F to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, looking at the parts from the top, thereby moving the right-hand jaw C inwardly until it is arrested by the engagement of its lug C with the stop E or by drect engagement with the line, as the case may be. The forward movement of the piston F is accompanied by a corresponding rearward movement of the piston F since the pistons are interconnected by the common pinion F The left-hand jaw C is urged toward and away from the composed line before and after casting respectively by mechanism which includes a vertical rotatable shaft F journalled at its upper end in a fixed portion of the vise frame B and at its lower end in a bearing presented by the fixed vise frame shelf B and a boss F dependin therefrom (F gs. 3 and 6). At the upper end of the shaft F there is mounted a pinion F meshing with rack teeth C formedin the front face of the left-hand jaw and, near the lower end of the shaft, just above the vise frame shelf B, there is mounted another pinion F cooperating at diametrically opposed points with rack teeth presented by a pair of piston rods F and F (Figs. 9 and 10). The 'oiston r ds F and F are secured to pistons F and F arranged to reciprocate in a pair of cylinders F and F, the two cylinders and pstons constituting a. pneumatic device for operating the left-hand jaw in opposite directions. The pneumatic device just described is the ame in all respects as the corresponding device for operating the righthand jaw, except that the cylinders F and F are mounted on the vise frame shelf B at right angles to the cylinders F and F (Figs. 9 and 10). Not only is the construction of the pneu-" matic devices the same but, indeed, the control valve F is common to both. That is, the end walls of the cyl nder F and F are formed with ducts F and F communicating with the valve F through pipe lines F and F which include respectively. he T-cormect ons F and F in the pi e lines F and F leading to the cyl nders F" and F Consequently, when the machine is at rest and the valve F is set to charge the cylinder F associated with the right-hand jaw, the cylinder F associated w th the left-hand jaw is likewise charged, so that the forces acting will tend to urge the jaws apart; whereas, when the valve is set to charge the cylinder F associated with the right-hand jaw, the cylinder F associated with the left-hand jaw w 11 be charged also, and the forces then acting will tend to move. the jaws inwardly toward each other. After the slug casting operation has been completed, the vise jaw cam D acts again to shift the valve ders, i. e., the cylinders P and F associated with the right and left-hand jaws. respectively, will be charged with air pressure and the associated cylinders F and F vented to the atmosphere. Under such conditions, the righthand jaw will be moved to its outer or normal position as has been described. A corresponding outward movement of the left-hand jaw will take place only when the machine is set for free quadding with the left-hand jaw and for centering since, under all other conditions, the pawl E acts to hold the left-hand jaw against outward movement away from the stop E The hydraulic jaw clamping mechanism While other means might be used, the instant machine utilizes hydraulic mechanism for exerting a clamping pressure on the jaws to insure a tight line during the slug casting operation. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 12 and 13, it will be observed that immediately below the vise frame shelf 13 which supports the vise jaw operating cylinders F F, F and F there is provided a closed compartment G filled with oil or other suitable liquid. Within the compartment there is mounted a casting G secured to the shelf at the bottom and formed with two cylinders G and Ci disposed at right angles, the cylinder G- being parallel to the air cylinders F F operating the righthand jaw, and the cylinder G parallel to the air cylinders F and F operating the left-hand jaw. Arranged to reciprocate within the cylinders (Ii and G are pistons G and G provided with piston rods G and G formed with rack teeth, the

teeth on the piston rod G engaging a pinion Gr fixed to the lower end of the vertical shaft F which operates the right-hand jaw C, and the teeth on the piston rod G engaging a pinion G fixed to the lower end of the vertical shaft F which operates the left-hand jaw C The ends of the cylinders G and G adjacent the pinions, open into the oil compartment G so that the liquid can readily flow into and out of those ends of the cylinders, although the cylinders at said ends are formed with slide bearings (i to buttress the piston rods against lateral thrust. At their opposite ends, the cylinders G and G are closed by relatively strong cylinder heads G so that a substantial pressure can be built up between said heads and the adjacent pistons G G The cylinder casting G is formed with a pair of vertical cylindrical recesses G and G disposed one behind the other in a fore-and-aft plane. The bottom of the rear recess G is connected by a duct G with the cylinder G associated with the right-hand jaw, the duct entering the cylinder adjacent its head and at the rear of the piston. The front cylindrical recess G is similarly connected to the cylinder G associated with the left-hand jaw by a duct G The cylindrical recesses G G contain, respectively, plungers G and G arranged for limited vertical movement therein. The plungers extend up- I wardly through the vise frame shelf B and, when F and reverse the air conditions in the cYlin-,

they are in their raised or normal positions, they uncover ports G and G which establish communication between the main compartment G, on the one hand, and the cylinders G and G on the other hand, through the ducts G and G (Figs. 12 and 13). The plungers are notched near their upper ends to accommodate the rounded end portions of a pair of bell crank levers G and G pivotally mounted on a fore-and-aft bearing rod (3 supported at it rears end in a vertical portion of the vise frame B (Figs. 3, 9 and 13). The bell crank levers G and G are formed with depending'arm portions connected at their lower ends through links G to a pair of long powerful springs G and G which extend horizontally to the left and are anchored at their opposite ends to a pin (2- fixed in the vise frame. The bearing rod G also pivotally supports another pair of lever members G and G arranged one adjacent each of the bell crank levers and formed each with an arm presenting a laterally extending lip-G which overlies that arm of the associated bell crank lever connected with the plunger G or G as the case may be. The lever members G and G also have depending arm portions connected at their lower ends to a pair of tension springs G and G which extend upwardly and are anchored at their upper ends to a pin C1 fixed in the vise frame. The springs G and G are somewhat lighter than the horizontal springs G and G and are capable of being selectively disabled under certain conditions which will be referred to later on.

Normally, the plungers G and G are held in their raised positions, against the combined pull of their respective pairs of springs, by a lever G pivotally mounted adjacent its center on a short fore-and-aft bearing rod G supported at its rear end in the vise frame somewhat below the bearing rod G (Figs. 3 and 12). The lever G is formed at its upper end with a T-shaped head G wide enough to engage bearing surfaces presented by both the bell crank levers G, G and also by both the adjacent associated lever members G and G At its lower end, the lever carries an anti-friction roller G arranged to track along an edge cam D mounted on the cam shaft D. The cam configuration is such that when the machine is at rest, the plungers are held in their raised positions against the reaction of the springs G G G G which tend to move them downwardly.

Whatever motion is imparted to the vise jaws C, either in moving them against their stops E, E or against the line, will be accompanied by a corresponding movement of the associated pistons G and G in the hydraulic cylinders, since the jaws and their respective pistons are operated from the same vertical shafts. The piston movement will not retard the jaw movement to any great extent, since the pistons are formed each with a pair of horizontal ports C1 to allow the liquid to flow freely from the front to the back of the pistons as they move outwardly (Figs. 13 and 14). The ports in each piston are covered by a flap valve G fastened at its upper end to the piston by a screw G having an enlarged portion on which the flap is slidably mounted and a head G40 sufficiently spaced from the piston face to allow the flap a limited movement away from the piston face to uncover the ports. The flap is guided in its movement toward and away from the face of the piston by a horizontal pin G projecting from the piston and which passes through a hole in the flap. A light pressure spring G reacting between the head G of the screw and the flap G tends to hold the flap in its normal closed position, although the spring will present little resistance to the opening of the flap by the liquid fiow during the outward movement of the piston (Fig. 14). through the ports G G beneath the plungers G G" during the outward movement of the pistons, so that when the jaws are brought to rest, the cylinders at the rear of the pistons will be filled with liquid.

Then, too, the liquid will flow Immediately after the jaws have been located in their line clamping positions, a drop D in the hydraulic plunger cam D permits the lever D to turn counterclockwise, looking at the parts fromthe front, thus freeing the bell crank levers G and G and their associated members G and G and permitting the plungers G and G" to be forced downwardly under the action of their associated springs.

Under all conditions of operation, except free quadding with one jaw, the plungers are forced downwardly under the combined action of their respective light and heavy springs. In the excepted condition, the light spring associated with the free quadding jaw is locked out of action, so that the line clamping pressure exerted by that jaw will be due solely to its associated heavy spring. The reason for this and the means by which it is accomplished are set forth later on. As the plungers G and G" move downwardly, they. close off the underlying ports G and G so that the force of the active springs will be exerted through the liquid upon the pistons, and consequently upon the vise jaws, multiplied through the intermediate connections previouslydescribed. Of course, when the liquid in the hydraulic cylinders at the rear of the pistons is under pressure, the flap valves G are held closed by said pressure, otherwise itwould be impossible for the pressure to build up. 7

The hydraulic units that have just been described are somewhatin the nature of hydraulic racks except for the supplemental plunger action by which the liquid in the cylinders is placed under pressure. We re itmerely a question of locating the jaws in a predetermined clamping position by means of their stops E and E and relying upon the justification of the spacebands to produce a tight line, true hydraulic racks could be employed. However, since the machine is designed for free quadding with either jaw and for centering, such conditions make it desirable to produce a line squeeze because of the probable absence of spacebands in the line. The plunger action will produce the necessary line squeeze in such cases.v

Asin the commercial linotype machine, line justification in the instant machine occurs in two stages, commonly termed first and second justification, between which matrix alignment takes place. The mechanism .for effecting matrix alignment has been fully described in copending application Serial No. 377,364. The hydraulic pressure is, initially exerted upon the jaws before the first stage of justification, otherwise there would not be suflicient reaction at the ends of the line to resist the expanding action of the wedge shaped spacebands. However, after first justification, it is desirable to relieve the clamping pressure on the line in order to facilitate the matrix alignment operation. The clamping pressure is relieved by raising the plungers G G to open the ports G and G thus allowing the jaws to retreat to whatever extent is necessary to relieve the internal pressure in the matrix line. The plungers are raised by rocking the lever G back to its normal position, thereby turning the bell crank levers G 9 and G against the reaction of thetension springs G G G G in a direction to lift the plungers; The lever G is rocked in the manner statedunder the control of the hydraulic plunger cam D which is formed with a high portion D located to cooperate with the roller D on the lever after first justification has taken place and immediately preceding matrix align- 

